ROBIN N.

LOMERIO
BSGE 2B
SATELLITE GEODESY

Atmospheric Delay

Signals propagated from a satellite experiences delay when it passes through atmosphere. This
phenomenon is natural however it greatly affects positioning-based satellite like GPS. It alter the
apparent speed of transmission and, to a lesser extent, the direction of the signal. This causes an
apparent delay in the signal's transit from the satellite to the receiver. Explanation to this is
explained by two major variable in satellite signal transmission, the ionospheric effect and
tropospheric effect. Ionospheric effect is deemed as a distortion of satellite signal due to the
ionization of gas molecules at ionosphere. Because of the sun’s UV rays, gas molecules releases free
electrons. These electrons’ number may varies but it constitute electron density making signal
transmission in the forms of electro-magnetic waves slow thus, the higher the electron density, the
larger the delay of the signal. On the other hand, tropospheric effect is the effect of refraction the
delay of signal. Since troposphere is refractive, the refraction is tantamount to a delay in the arrival
of a GPS satellite's signal. It can also be conceptualized as a distance added to the range the receiver
measures between itself and the satellite. The troposphere is also nondispersive for frequencies
below 30 GHz or so. Therefore, L1, L2, and L5 are equally refracted. However, when a satellite is
close to the horizon, the delay of the signal caused by the troposphere is maximized. The
tropospheric delay of the signal from a satellite at zenith, directly above the receiver, is minimized.
Refraction in the troposphere has a dry component and a wet component. The dry component which
contributes most of the delay, is closely correlated to the atmospheric pressure. The dry component
can be more easily estimated than the wet component. It is fortunate that the dry component
contributes the larger portion of range error in the troposphere, because the size of the delay
attributable to the wet component depends on the highly variable water vapor distribution in the
atmosphere.
 GPS ephemeris elements

Each of the satellite has ephemeris that broadcasts to the receivers about the information of its
position relative to the earth. Ephemeris provides the coordinates of the satellite in space
automatically and the Control Segment uploads the ephemerides to the Navigation Message for each
individual satellite. Particularly, it provides data about the position of the satellite antenna's phase
center. The ephemeris is obtained in a right ascension (RA) system of coordinates. There are six
orbital elements; among them are the size of the orbit, that is its semi-major axis, a, and its shape,
that is the eccentricity, e. However, the orientation of the orbital plane in space is defined by other
things, specifically the right ascension of its ascending node, Ω, and the inclination of its plane, i.
These parameters along with the argument of the perigee, ω, and the description of the position of
the satellite on the orbit, known as the true anomaly, provides all the information the user’s
computer needs to calculate earth-centered, earth-fixed, World Geodetic System 1984, GPS Week
1762 (WGS84 [G1762]) coordinates of the satellite at any moment.

Eccentricity (e): shape of the ellipse, describing how much it is elongated compared to a
circle(e=0circular orbit; e < 1 elliptical orbit; e > 1 hyperbolic trajectory; e = 1 parabolic trajectory).
Galileo orbits typical range value is from 0.0001 to 0.0006, thus they are near-circular orbits.

Semimajor axis (a): the sum of the periapsis (point of closest approach) and apoapsis (point of
farthest excursion) distances divided by two. Typical Galileo orbits semi-major axis value is around
29,500km.
Inclination of its plane (i): vertical tilt of the ellipse with respect to the reference plane
(equatorial plane), measured at the ascending node (where the orbit passes upward through the
equatorial plane). Typical Galileo orbits inclination is 55º-56º.

Longitude of the ascending node(Ω) or right ascension of the ascending node (O): angle
between the reference plane’s vernal point and the ascending node, measured CCW from vernal
equinox.

Perigee/Argument of periapsis (ω): angle measured from the ascending node to the periapsis,
defining the orientation of the ellipse in the orbital plane.

True anomaly: defines the position of the satellite along the ellipse at a precise epoch. It is not a
geometric angle. However, it can be converted into the true anomaly (ν) which is the angle between
periapsis and the position of the orbiting object (satellite).

Earth’s Orbit

The Earth's orbit is ellipse with the Earth-Sun barycenter as one focus and has an eccentricity of
0.0167. As the value is close to zero, the center of the orbit is relatively close to the center of
the Sun (relative to the size of the orbit). The Earth orbits the Sun at an average distance of 149.60
million km (92.96 million mi) in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above the Northern
Hemisphere. One complete orbit takes 365.249 days (1 sidereal year), during which time Earth has
traveled 940 million km (584 million mi). As seen from Earth, the planet's orbital prograde
motion makes the Sun appear to move with respect to other stars at a rate of about 1° eastward
per solar day (or a Sun or Moon diameter every 12 hours). Earth's orbital speed averages 29.78 km/s
(107,208 km/h; 66,616 mph), which is fast enough to cover the planet's diameter in 7 minutes and
the distance to the Moon in 4 hours. From a vantage point above the north pole of either the Sun or
Earth, Earth would appear to revolve in a counterclockwise direction around the Sun. From the same
vantage point, both the Earth and the Sun would appear to rotate also in a counterclockwise
direction about their respective axes.

My reaction about my proposed satellite is that it did not consider the elements of satellite
ephemeris so therefore it has higher tendency to collide with other existing satellite around the
earth. It is important to consider these element as well as the nature of earth orbital for us to
create a better satellite system. Neglecting the satellite ephemeris system and elements would
never ever gave the satellite a success. It has a higher risk of collision or becoming space debris.
Also as been discussed above, the two factors needed to be considered, the atmospheric effect
and also the earth orbital are guides in making a suitable and successful satellite to be launch. It
is not simply drawing an ellipse and putting names on the satellite but also application of
Keplerian Law of orbit and other natural-space physics.